Most people think of yoga in terms of the physical practice – very flexible people getting into weird positions – but yoga is really about…mind control.  It’s important to state that this is about controlling your own mind and not other peoples.  If you want to control other peoples, become a dictator. 

If you can control the incessant thoughts, you start to get some peace and feel relaxed. And what better way to live! And yoga practice is a way to achieve this through a combination of physical practices known as ‘asana’, breathing practices known as ‘pranayama’ and meditation.

When people first try meditation they notice how busy their mind is.  Constantly thinking. Trying to solve problems and work stuff out.  So people stop and say they can’t meditate because their mind is too busy.  And they go back to activities which distract them – watching TV, drinking, eating, computer games, social media…the list goes on. 

But in the background, the constant thinking goes on; thinking about the past and worrying about the future causes depression, stress and anxiety. You can run from your thoughts, but you can’t hide!

To meditate is difficult at first and is often dismissed, but a much more accessible entry point to yoga is through yoga postures and breathing exercises.  This helps to stretch and strengthen the body and calm the mind. Click here for a 20 minute yoga practice which can be done any time of day.

And before you ask “do I need to be flexible to do yoga?” the answer is no, not at all.  You may be the least flexible person right now but over time your body will open up – guaranteed.

Our lifestyles are very busy, it’s non-stop with always something to do.  If you don’t fancy a physical practice right now, click here for a 10 minute relaxation.

There are many benefits from practicing yoga. Here are just a few:

• Feel both energised and relaxed at the same time
• Improves mood
• Get a better nights sleep
• Helps to destress and feel less anxiety
• Helps to clear the head, here’s a 10 minute guided meditation
• If you are feeling sluggish, try practicing a few sun salutations to wake up
• If you are feeling a bit hyper, try a 15 minute relaxation
• Improves flexibility and strength in the body and relaxes the mind
• Practice it after sports to stretch off, try this 10 minute yoga workout for runners, cyclists and gym bunnies

Yoga is good for back pain too.  Around 80% of people suffer from lower back pain.  If you are one of these people you’ll know it is both painful and debilitating, stopping you leading a normal life at both work and play.  It is also the cause of depression and anxiety, creating a downward spiral.

The good news is that yoga can help. Yoga for Healthy Lower Backs (YHLB) is a clinically proven method designed to teach people simple yoga and relaxation techniques to help them manage and cope with their low back pain.

Get in touch to find out more about how yoga and meditation can help if you have lower back pain, if you want to improve your flexibility or suffer from stress and want to learn how to relax.